Submitted to Department of Health and Aged Care.

Dietitians Australia considers it vital for the Statement of Rights within the new Aged Care Act to acknowledge and include the human right to a standard of food, nutrition and nutritional care that supports health, wellbeing and quality of life. These rights must apply to the standard of food, nutrition and nutritional care provided in Commonwealth funded residential aged care homes, as well as apply to community-dwelling older adults receiving home-delivered or centre-based meals, as part of Commonwealth Home Support Services. 

A Statement of Rights on a standard of food, nutrition and nutritional care is necessary as part of the holistic approach to prevent and treat malnutrition, improve clinical outcomes and improve quality of life among older people accessing funded aged care services. 

To read more, download our full submission.